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Rotary Club resumes Dance Cheboygan showcase, celebrates 100 years of service

Kortny Hahn
Cheboygan Daily Tribune
Last summer, the Cheboygan Rotary Club presented a repainted picnic table to the City of Cheboygan, one of the first interactive tables in the state, which is on display at Festival Square.

CHEBOYGAN — To celebrate its 100th year of being an active member of the Cheboygan community, the Rotary Club of Cheboygan will be bringing its event Dance Cheboygan back to the city Aug. 5.

After being canceled for the past two years due to COVID-19, the Cheboygan Rotary Club brought the program back asa way to celebrate the group's 100 years of service to the community. The group is also looking for six more dancers or performing groups willing to take part in the event at the Ralph G. Cantile Arena, also known as the Cheboygan Ice Rink Pavilion, 480 Cleveland Ave.

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Rotary Club President JL Sumpter said the doors for the event will open at 5:30 p.m. for cocktails and a chance to mix and mingle with the dancers for those who purchased VIP tickets. For general admission, doors will open at 6 p.m.

In between the dancers, there were several other acts, including performances from the Cheboygan Cheer team at the 2019 Dance Cheboygan event. This year, there is not a competition between dancers, it is more of an exhibition of dance to celebrate Rotary's 100 years in the community.

"Then it will be a 6:30 p.m. program, where we're going to introduce what we've done in the last 100 years for Cheboygan," said Sumpter. "It's just a celebration."

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There is still room for more performers to join the event, which has changed from the inaugural Dance Cheboygan in 2019, moving to a showcase format rather than a competition.

"We're just utilizing the time to celebrate. We're going to have local food vendors there," said Sumpter.

Jim Sturgill and Kim Staffan, representing the Cheboygan Swing Dance group, wowed the crowds with their amazing dance moves during the Dance Cheboygan! event in 2019. The Rotary Club of Cheboygan is looking for several more dancers who are willing to participate in this year's event.

The local food vendors will have hors d'oeuvres for purchase. These tickets are available at $5 per person, with bleacher seating and food available from the concession stand.

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VIP tickets can be purchased for $40 per and will include seats at a table near the dancefloor. VIPs will also be let into the event earlier than general admission.

"With the purchase of your VIP ticket, you get one drink ticket and hors d'oeuvres included," said Amy Essex, who will take over for Sumpter as Rotary Club president July 1. "It's just a fun evening of dance entertainment, food and camaraderie."

There will also be a cash bar for everyone to utilize. Iced tea and water will be available at no cost and a DJ will provide music.

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Tickets can be purchased at the Cheboygan Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau, Rehmann, Citizens National Bank Cheboygan branches, Wheeler Motors. All checks used to purchase the tickets must be made out to Rotary Club of Cheboygan.

A new sign has been installed at Gordon Turner Park, thanks to a partnership between the City of Cheboygan and the Cheboygan Rotary Club. Contributed photo

All proceeds fwill stay within the Cheboygan community and will help the Rotary Club continue its community service projects, such as the new signs at Gordon Turner Park and the picnic table at Festival Square. The first year of this event raised over $15,000.

Sumpter said all proceeds will be split between the Rotary Club of Cheboygan for grants to be made to local causes, as well as to fund scholarships for local graduating seniors each year.

For more information, email Essex_Amy@yahoo.com or call 231-676-8317.

Contact Reporter Kortny Hahn at khahn1@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @khahnCDT.